Hello from Texas.... Getting Started with the BBB Method

[Lonestar]

Not new to pools. I've had a 36'x18' in ground pool since 2005. What i AM new to is the BBB method, and all the great advice on this forum. Thanks to this place i learned my $50 hand held strip tester probably wasn't too accurate. I ordered the Taylor testing kit and couldn't be more happy.

I recently put a new liner in my pool, and started testing. PH was over 8, but got it down to around 7.6 now. FC averages around 1 to 3 ppm, but my CYA is low, around 10. I've got pucks in an inline chlorine feeder, and use bleach directly in the pool when FC levels get low. Will the stabilizer in the pucks eventually bring up my CYA level, or do i need to add stabilizer???

Pool is crystal clear and looking good...

[Watermom]

The pucks will eventually bring the CYA up. But, they are also acidic, so keep an eye on your pH. Make sure that your pucks do NOT have copper in them! Or, you can add CYA separately and then just use bleach instead of pucks. Your choice.

[Lonestar]

Thanks Watermom.

Going to end up doing that. This method is so much easier!

[Lonestar]

One more question Watermom.

Do they also add stuff in "pool shock", or "liquid chlorine" that's not added to bleach? The reason i ask is we have a local farm store here called Atwoods, similar to Tractor Supply, and they carry chemicals for pools. I noticed their regular price on a gallon of pool shock was $2 and some change, which i thought was fairly reasonable, and instead of 6% or 8.25% it was 10% Sodium Hypochlorite. Is this basically just 10% bleach?? Don't want to be adding stuff that i don't need. They sell it by the case, which makes it easy. All the ingredients say is 10% Sodium Hypochlorite 90% inert ingredients.

[Watermom]

It is probably fine. Most liquid chlorine sold is just sodium hypochlorite of varying concentrations, often 10 or 12% so yes, it is just strong bleach.

[Lonestar]

Thanks for the help. Gonna try to get my CYA levels up just a bit, then forget the pucks and go straight to bleach....

[PoolDoc]

sounds like a plan. - membership upgraded.

[Lonestar]

sounds like a plan. - membership upgraded.

Thanks for the upgrade PoolDoc!

Glad i can finally look at the rest of the forum without logging out :-)